Crude oil heated and fed into the bottom of the fractionating column as a vapour. The column is cooler at the top and hotter at the bottom of the column. The process works using the different boiling and condensing points of the fractions as different fractions condense at different temperatures. The fractions with the highest boiling points will condense towards the bottom, and the fractions with the lowest boiling points will condense towards the top, separating the crude oil mixture. The condensed fractions, now liquids, are collected through pipes and positioned at different heights within the column.